John Armstong: Message that must be heard

COMMENT

The hikoi has gone, but the challenge it has laid down to politicians - that Maori will not be ignored - remains indelibly printed on the minds of those who saw the largest and most highly charged rally in Parliament's grounds since farmers descended on Wellington in their thousands in the 1980s and burned effigies of Sir Roger Douglas.

The hikoi's message was framed around the foreshore and seabed. But this march, an affirmation of Maori pride and expression of political consciousness, was really about power.

The two big parties were being told in no uncertain terms that unless they start sharing power, power will be shared for them.

Enter the new Maori party.

Farmer fury over Labour's slashing of agricultural subsidies soon subsided, but the numbers on the hikoi suggest Maori anger is building.

On the day, some politicians responded to the hammering on their front door better than others.

The Prime Minister could have figured it was going to be a bad week after she was widely reported on Monday as preferring to meet a merino sheep on Parliament's forecourt than talk to one of her party's most loyal constituencies.

Helen Clark miscalculated. Her strategy was clear and simple - to keep Labour firmly onside with Pakeha New Zealand by slamming the hikoi organisers as "haters and wreckers".

She predicted Waitangi Day-style chaos in Parliament's grounds.

That did not happen. Instead, there was dignity, order, discipline and respect for the country's most important institution. It was the Prime Minister who looked out of step.

The National Party simply remained out of sight. It sent its sole Maori MP, Georgina te Heuheu, to welcome the hikoi. She did so as an MP, rather than as a National MP.

But, having torn up the consensus on how governments handle Maori issues, National must start thinking how it would build a new consensus in government.

Or else, race relations will bedevil it in government as much as they have Helen Clark, if not more so.

A final word on Parekura Horomia, who ended the week with his reputation considerably enhanced. The oft-maligned Maori Affairs Minister was in an impossible position, forced to defend Government policy on the foreshore while enduring the deep anger Maori feel about that policy.

He was sent to meet the hikoi because he is the Great Defuser.

He has soaked up the pressure, being measured, conciliatory, relaxed and good humoured in everything he said inside and outside Parliament.

In a week when those around him were in danger of losing their heads, he kept his.